An Ah/ira^ of a Letter from Mr. A. Leevvenhoeck 
of belft, dated Decemb. 2 8/>^, 1683. concern- 
ing Scales within the mouthy the fcaly Child that 
was jhewn^ the kmtomy of the Slime within the 
Guts J and t he ufe thereof. 
fN my Letter of the 17^^, September 1^83 . Ifaidthat 
our Skin was covered with Scales. I have fince that 
time examined the Cutzcula of the infide of the Mouth, 
and chiefly that of the under Lip; which I find to be co- 
vered with Scales, greater and broader than thofe upon 
the Body ; but they are withal thinner. Fi^. i. is a Scale 
which I choofe out as one of the perfecSteft and moft in- 
tire. Thefe Scales had more lines or ftreaks running o- 
verthem, than the ^r^?/^/ had which grew on the outfide. 
of the Body, the lines I take to be channels or remain- 
ders of vapours breathed thro the Skin. Every Scale tlX^ 
fo had a great manyfmall Globules upon it, very tran- 
fparent, as is to be feen in theiT^^^r^. 
Another Scale lying thereby, had its circumference 
asTv^. 2. But as t\iz Scales of our Body, lying over one 
another, fo as tobe three deep, are the caufe of the skins 
appearing white, as I have formerly faid (for diapha- 
nous Particles laid upon one another, and not too clofe, 
make a white ; for which reafon we fee that Paper, Spit- 
tle, beaten-Glafs, and Snow are white;: fo t\\Q Scales of 
our Mouth, (for as much as I can yet find J lying but a 
little over the fides of one another, fufFerthe rednefs of 
the flelh and blood to appear through them j and for this 
caufe the Lips and Mouth are red. 
1 have often wondred what fliould be the caufe; that a 
fingle hair lying upon the skin caufed fo great a tickling I 
But if the Skin be covered with Scales ^ 2Lnd. the 
outward bark of the hair be very rugged, it will not be 
ftrange. 
